We’ve given the world…radar, jet engine, the World Wide Web, the military tank, the jump jet…not to mention the Christmas card.

Between us we’ve got an impressive record of innovation.

UK shares commitment to science and technology

And what’s absolutely clear, on both sides of the pond, is that in defence, exploiting technology and innovation, will matter even more in the future than it has in the past.

Only through technological advantage can we meet, head on, the kaleidoscope of global threats and challenges that we face. In the past year alone we’ve seen…the rise of ISIL, Russian aggression in Eastern Europe, Iran’s machinations, the spread of Ebola…

We’ve watched complexity replace old Cold War clarity.

We’ve seen the boundaries between international and domestic threats, military and non-military affairs, blurring.

This is an era in which the threats we face are not merely to national security but the international stability on which our trade resources and technology depend, threats to the ‘world order’ that Henry Kissinger has so eloquently described.

And despite all the advantages that technology has bestowed on our modern world, we have to face the flipside.

Once we’d got the legacy of out of control procurement out of our system, we turned our attention to the problems that had caused it…and started the painstaking process of building a better future for defence.

Then we restructured our forces…creating a scalable, modular, and fundamentally joint approach to provide us with the flexibility and agility that our volatile world demands.

And we devolved budgets to the single services…ensuring the men and women who really understand what’s required took responsibility, and with that accountability, for spending decisions….

Finally, we overhauled our infrastructure and equipment organisations…injecting them with much needed private sector expertise.

They now adopt a more commercial approach…ensuring we are a more intelligent customer; one able to get high quality equipment at best value for the taxpayer.

There’s no denying it, it’s been a long and arduous journey, but we are starting to reap benefits, improving procurement performance in getting more equipment delivered to time and cost parameters.

But we recognise that to guarantee we’re in the best shape to face the challenges of tomorrow, much more progress is required.

Collaboration: the key to innovation

We also recognise that, when it comes to driving innovation, we can’t go it alone…collaboration is the future.

That’s why we in the Ministry of Defence are so keen on what we call the “whole force concept”…ensuring that defence uses the most expedient mix of talents from the military, defence civilian and commercial worlds to achieve the best possible effect…

…something we are able to do by virtue of our smaller size.

We’ve seen it with the introduction of private sector skills in defence procurement and infrastructure services…

We’ve seen it with cross government and third-sector collaboration on international defence engagement

Above all, we’re seeing it when it comes to technological innovation….

…because in a world of exponential technological advance it’s often in the civilian sphere that latest innovation is to be found. We need to tap that talent…and we need to do it in a timely fashion.

That’s why the UK is doing its utmost to support technological innovation.

Firstly, by avoiding what I believe they call in Texas: “All hat no cattle”…

…putting our money where our mouth is…investing in world class science and technology…protecting our annual investment in science and technology…so it remains at least 1.2 % of the defence budget…

…a figure that, I know, won’t sound like a big deal to you all…but one that…in a time of fiscal retrenchment…reflects the seriousness of our intent.

And our Centre for Defence Enterprise…is already developing novel high risk, high potential benefit innovations on everything from complex weapons to sensor navigation and guidance.

Our investment in defence technology comes on top of our government’s wider existing investment in science and technology as part of its long term economic plan…

…including $425 million in quantum technologies…

…$370 million on a new advanced materials research centre…

…$515 million on Space technologies to take the leading role in Europe

…and $470 million on cutting edge projects such as the European spallation source, a powerful neutron microscope that will allow us to observe the universe better…bringing with it the potential to discover materials for faster planes, new and better computer chips and feather lightweight kit for our military.

This is priority investment and it means the UK can continue to call itself one of the most productive science nations in the world…publishing 16% of the world’s top quality research, despite being home to just 1% of its population.

Secondly, we’re supporting technological innovation by encouraging defence primes to open up their supply chains

Smoothing the path for the SMEs that are the lifeblood of the defence industry…

Providing the niche capability, the groundbreaking ideas and the enterprise that gives us the edge.

And, thirdly, through a new initiative called the defence growth partnership, we’re providing a collaborative environment for the collective effort of industry, government and academia to focus on making the UK defence industry more sustainable and more competitive…

…able to provide leading edge capability for our armed forces and international customers.

In short, it’s about bringing the best brains in the business together…

So we can foster a UK supply chain and create a UK centre of excellence recognised as such by defence customers‎ and other defence supply chains around the world.

International collaboration

So collaboration…is the key to innovation.

But…on a domestic scale, it only takes us so far…

If we want to stay at the very forefront of global innovation…

…and if we’re to remain ahead of our adversaries…

…we must pool our resources more widely….

And collaborate on an international scale.

Our countries can point to the individual achievements of great Americans and Great Britons.

Yet it is often the melding of our experience and expertise that produces the unique fission to turn the tide of world events, whether in World War 2 or the Cold War.

Which is why, we want to be part of your discussion on innovation.

And it’s my firm conviction…and I hope yours too…that we have much to offer, if you’ll let us.

Rich history of collaboration

As the Minister responsible for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, of course I would say that.

But, you don’t need to take my word for it…

Because the US and the UK have a rich history of collaboration on military technology and capabilities…something I’ve already alluded to.

Fittingly, the UK had a role in the first US offset strategy and our relationship on the nuclear enterprise is based on the 60 years of collaboration that stemmed from it.

Today, our collaboration is unmatched across a broad spectrum of capabilities including intelligence, force protection, airborne ISR, and the interoperability of our force structures.

Sometimes we’re equitable partners, working hand-in-glove to develop the same capability, such as on the common missile compartment.

Sometimes the UK is a priority partner, such as on F35, where our involvement helps to save long term costs.

Sometimes we utilise US off the shelf equipment and develop new and innovative ways of operating it, such as on rivet joint.

And when we do collaborate on capabilities, it’s easy to see the benefits of operating them alongside each other…

it’s the basis for a much deeper and richer collaboration…

one that exists between our respective services…

and the way they work and operate together.

The future of our carrier operations and maritime power projection will have UK/US interoperability at the heart of it… not just on the equipment…

but on the training of our people and the way we operate the capability in the future.

And we continue to collaborate extensively on science and technology.

Whether it’s our joint work on land based electronic counter-measures… where together we’re working to stay ahead of a complex and rapidly evolving threat… and which has saved countless lives and limbs over the past decade of joint operations…

…or our work on infra red counter measures for aircraft.

Encouragingly, the science and technology communiqué that I signed with Frank Kendall at the start of this year…to accelerate our joint programmes of research in disruptive technologies…is already paying dividends.

There are currently around 100 distinct research and development arrangements underway between the UK and the US. And an increased number of US exchange scientists and engineers in the UK…as well as a new scheme for short-term exchanges between UK and US scientists.

We’ve established joint work initiatives in game changing technology…including a DOD-MOD sponsored workshop in the New Year on Quantum technology.

And the value of the communiqué has been affirmed by the development of co-operation into potential new areas including quantum technology…and expanding current areas of co-operation such as autonomy and directed energy.

So we work better together and there’s more we can do

So we have a good track record in collaboration and innovation…one we can and must build on if we are to even start meeting our full potential…before others meet theirs…

And there is so much we can do across the spectrum of engagement…

Be it working jointly on cutting edge scientific projects… …Sharing access to critical technologies and test facilities…

..Exchanging ideas on modernising our business processes or attracting talent into defence…

…Co-ordinating the division of effort and the concentration of national resources…

Or increasing joint war gaming on common areas of interest.

Challenging the status quo

But it’s not just about exchanging new ideas…

It’s about challenging old ones too…

Breaking down the barriers to collaboration…

Smashing through the bureaucratic ceiling…to accelerate the path from concept to capability…

…Ensuring we can align acquisition, access each other’s markets…and see capability collaboration for what it really is: a force multiplier and a pooling of the market; not a mechanism for eroding competition or reducing profits.

We need to collectively recognise the importance of strong defence on both sides of the Atlantic, particularly a strong industrial and technical base.

It’s in all of our interests.

At the NATO summit in Wales, member countries reaffirmed their commitment to spend, or aim to spend, 20% of their defence spending on major new equipment.

We meet our obligations; but not all do.

If European defence industries are prevented from cooperating or partnering on new equipment programmes, their governments will stop investing in defence.

And that will affect all of us.

Collaboration is a “must have” not a “nice to have”.

Conclusion

So …if we’re to meet the onslaught of emerging and evolving threats in a coherent and credible way…we must collaborate…across industry…and across continents…to draw out the best innovations from our nations. I hope to work closer with the United States to make this happen, and look forward to meeting with the Deputy Secretary this afternoon to take forward our discussions on just how we might do this.

And while we can reflect on a great shared history, it’s my staunch belief, that if we capitalise on our past…and seize the opportunities of the present… …we can look forward with confidence to the future…

A future where we will maintain our capability advantage

A future where we will increase our innovation.

And a future where we will strengthen our already special relationship.